초록 ▼

A knuckle includes two steering bosses (i.e., upper and lower), each having a continuous channel, connecting, respectively, separate channel openings where the channels taper outward from an inner diameter to each of their respective openings. A hollow first adapter sleeve is located within either o

A knuckle includes two steering bosses (i.e., upper and lower), each having a continuous channel, connecting, respectively, separate channel openings where the channels taper outward from an inner diameter to each of their respective openings. A hollow first adapter sleeve is located within either one of the channel openings of the upper steering boss, and a hollow second adapter sleeve is located within either one of the channel openings of the lower steering boss. As a result of this structure, the knuckle may be used on either side of a vehicle, allow for entry of a steering arm/tie rod arm from forward to rear (rearwardly directed) or vice versa in either of the steering bosses, and may be applied to various sizes of knuckle-steer axle assemblies.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A vehicle knuckle, comprising: a first steering boss having a first continuous channel connecting a first channel opening and a second channel opening, said first channel tapering outward from an inner diameter to each of said first and second channel openings; a second steer

What is claimed is: 1. A vehicle knuckle, comprising: a first steering boss having a first continuous channel connecting a first channel opening and a second channel opening, said first channel tapering outward from an inner diameter to each of said first and second channel openings; a second steering boss having a second continuous channel connecting a third channel opening and a fourth channel opening, said second channel tapering outward from an inner diameter to each of said third and fourth channel openings; a hollow first adapter sleeve located within said first or said second channel opening of said first steering boss; and a hollow second adapter sleeve located within said third or said fourth channel opening of said second steering boss; wherein each of said hollow adapter sleeves has a key or an external keyway that cooperates with the other of an internal keyway or a key of its corresponding knuckle channel to rotationally lock said hollow adapter sleeves to a knuckle. 2. The vehicle knuckle of claim 1, wherein each of said inner diameters is the smallest diameter within its respective channel. 3. The vehicle knuckle of claim 1, wherein a steering arm, having a corresponding taper that cooperates with said taper within either of said first channel opening or said second channel opening, cooperates with an inside surface of said hollow first adapter sleeve disposed in the other of said first or said second channel opening, and is secured to said first steering boss within said first continuous channel by a nut that cooperates with an external peripheral surface of said hollow first adapter sleeve. 4. The vehicle knuckle of claim 3, wherein a tie rod arm, having a corresponding taper that cooperates with said taper within said third channel opening or said fourth channel opening, cooperates with an inside surface of said hollow second adapter sleeve disposed in the other of said third or said fourth channel opening, and is secured to said second steering boss within said second continuous channel by a nut that cooperates with an external peripheral surface of said hollow second adapter sleeve. 5. The vehicle knuckle of claim 4, wherein said first steering boss is above said second steering boss. 6. The vehicle knuckle of claim 1, said bosses having vertically aligned bores outboard from said channels, said vertically aligned bores receiving a kingpin therethrough. 7. The vehicle knuckle of claim 1, wherein said tapers within each of said channels of said knuckle steering bosses are the same. 8. The vehicle knuckle of claim 7, wherein each of said inner diameters are half way between their respective openings. 9. A steering axle assembly comprising a steering axle with two ends, wherein each of said steering axle ends is rotatably coupled by way of a kingpin to a vehicle knuckle of claim 1. 10. The vehicle knuckle of claim 1, wherein said first and said third channel openings are toward the rear of said vehicle and said second and said fourth channel openings are toward the front of said vehicle, wherein further said hollow first adapter sleeve is located within said first channel opening, a steering arm is located within said second channel opening, said hollow second adapter sleeve is located within said fourth channel opening, and a tie rod arm is located within said third channel opening. 11. The vehicle knuckle of claim 1, wherein said first and third channel openings are toward the rear of said vehicle and said second and fourth channel openings are toward the front of said vehicle, further wherein said hollow first adapter sleeve is located within said second channel opening, a steering arm is located within said first channel opening, said hollow second adapter sleeve is located within said fourth channel opening, and a tie rod arm is located within said third channel opening. 12. The vehicle knuckle of claim 1, wherein said knuckle comprises forged steel. 13. A steering axle assembly for a vehicle having two knuckles, comprising; a tie rod having two ends having a first tie rod arm and a second tie rod arm thereon; a first knuckle comprising a hollow first adapter sleeve within a rear channel opening of a continuous channel in an upper steering boss, said channel being tapered outward from an inner diameter toward a forward channel opening and said rear channel opening; a first steering arm within said forward channel opening of said continuous channel of said upper steering boss and within said first adapter sleeve; a first nut to secure said first steering arm to said first knuckle; a hollow second adapter sleeve within a forward channel opening of a continuous channel of a lower steering boss, said channel being tapered outward from an inner diameter toward said forward channel opening and a rear channel opening; said first tie rod arm within said rear channel opening of said continuous channel of said lower steering boss and within said second adapter sleeve; and a second nut to secure said first tie rod arm to said first knuckle; and a second knuckle comprising a hollow third adapter sleeve within a forward channel opening of a continuous channel of an upper steering boss, said channel being tapered outward from an inner diameter toward said forward channel opening and a rear channel opening; a second steering arm within said rear channel opening of said continuous channel of said upper steering boss and within said third adapter sleeve; a third nut to secure said second steering arm to said second knuckle; a hollow fourth adapter sleeve within a forward channel opening of a continuous channel of a lower steering boss, said channel being tapered outward from an inner diameter toward said forward channel opening and a rear channel opening; said second tie rod arm within said rear channel opening of said continuous channel of said lower steering boss and within said fourth adapter sleeve; and a fourth nut to secure the second tie rod arm to the second knuckle. 14. A method of assembling a steering assembly for a vehicle having two knuckles, comprising; in a first knuckle, disposing a hollow first adapter sleeve within a rear channel opening of a continuous channel in an upper steering boss that is tapered outward from an inner diameter toward said rear channel opening and a forward channel opening; directing a first steering arm through said forward channel opening of said continuous channel of said upper steering boss and into said first adapter sleeve; securing said first steering arm to said first knuckle by way of a first nut; disposing a hollow second adapter sleeve within a forward channel opening of a continuous channel of a lower steering boss that is tapered outward from an inner diameter toward said forward channel opening and a rearward channel opening; directing a first tie rod arm through said rear channel opening of said continuous channel of said lower steering boss and into said second adapter sleeve; securing said first tie rod arm to said first knuckle by way of a second nut; in a second knuckle, disposing a hollow third adapter sleeve within a forward channel opening of a continuous channel of an upper steering boss that is tapered outward from an inner diameter toward said forward channel opening and a rearward channel opening; directing a second steering arm through said rear channel opening of said continuous channel of said upper steering boss and into said third adapter sleeve; securing said second steering arm to said second knuckle by way of a third nut; disposing a hollow fourth adapter sleeve within a forward channel opening of a continuous channel of a lower steering boss that is tapered outward from an inner diameter toward said forward channel opening and said rearward channel opening; directing a second tie rod arm through said rear channel opening of said continuous channel of said lower steering boss and into said fourth adapter sleeve; and securing the second tie rod arm to the second knuckle by way of a fourth nut.